Battle of Brandywine Creek
(September 11, 1777)
(September 11, 1777)
The Marquis de Lafayette begged George Washington to let him go into battle, but he had not actually been promoted to a general yet, which would have given him the authority he needed. Lafayette was a major general, which according to the army ranks at the time was two ranks lower than a general. Finally, after a long time of pleading, Washington agreed to send him in to help organize the patriots' retreat.
Lafayette quickly got to the battlefield, he dismounted his horse and with all his energy, he started to rally the men. Just as all the men were getting organized, Lafayette was brutally shot in the leg. Still trying to prove to the Americans that he was tough, steady and didn't panic under heavy fire, Lafayette refused the medical help and got back right back up as if nothing had happened. He continued the retreating march with the american soldiers, until they were safe in the woods. After that, he went onto the medical boat that was waiting for him on shore. When General Washington saw Lafayette being loaded on to the medical boat, he told the doctors on board to treat Lafayette as if he was his own son. This small kind act of generosity showed George Washington’s affection towards Lafayette.
Lafayette quickly got to the battlefield, he dismounted his horse and with all his energy, he started to rally the men. Just as all the men were getting organized, Lafayette was brutally shot in the leg. Still trying to prove to the Americans that he was tough, steady and didn't panic under heavy fire, Lafayette refused the medical help and got back right back up as if nothing had happened. He continued the retreating march with the american soldiers, until they were safe in the woods. After that, he went onto the medical boat that was waiting for him on shore. When General Washington saw Lafayette being loaded on to the medical boat, he told the doctors on board to treat Lafayette as if he was his own son. This small kind act of generosity showed George Washington’s affection towards Lafayette.